by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Having spent over a decade playing together as a duo, the Bay Area’s Street Eaters have gone and done the unthinkable, they’ve added a guitarist to the mix. As they in their bio, “we figured after 10+ years a band should be able to do whatever the hell they want,” and we couldn’t agree more. While sometimes less is more (like the mighty Big Business), in the case of Street Eaters’ upcoming EP, Simple Distractions, the guitars are a welcome addition, bringing Megan March and John No’s rattled post-punk energy to new sonic heights, while still maintaining the band’s fond Autoclave and Mission of Burma influences. Set to release their new effort on April 9th via their own Nervous Intent Records, the collection features three new songs as well as a cover of Gang of Four’s “Love Like Anthrax” that band recorded live featuring Screaming Females’ Marissa Paternoster on guitar and vocals.
The record’s title track and album opener, “Simple Distractions,” is the first single comes courtesy of a video directed by the band and assisted by William A. Badgley (KARP documentary) and Hannah Lew (Grass Widow). Rooted in low end with a touch of feedback, the track opens with a hypnotic pounding and a mysterious twangy kind of doom. The video captures what appears to be some of seance or unholy ritual… that could in actuality just be restlessness. Those newfound guitars really come storming in on the triumphant hook (that almost recalls Tuscadero at their most raw), and the primal rhythm is lifted right along with it. “Simple Distractions” is a great introduction to a great EP, setting the stage without showing its hand.